An Isle of Wight '80s band has found that patience really is a virtue when it comes to success.
Nearly forty years on from recording a series of tracks - which never quite took off - group Cassie are preparing to release an album worldwide.
The band formed on the Island in 1978 and was made up of drummer Hugh Kim Lewis, lead vocalist Debbie Barker (now Coles), bassist Eric Biggs and the late Nigel Hayles - who was on guitar.
The 'Lights Shine On' LP set to go on sale soon.
They hung up their instruments in 1985 but were rediscovered in remarkable circumstances earlier this year.
As Isle of Wight Radio first reported, Hugh received an "out of the blue" call from American record label, Reminder Records, asking to re-release the band’s single.
Since hitting shelves, the track, named ‘Change My Image’, has proved surprisingly popular.
"It sold fairly well - we've had some royalties so we can't complain! It sold pretty well in Japan, America, the UK so we're pretty chuffed about that, Hugh said.
"It did really, really well on the Island. It's sold everywhere - Austria, Australia!"
After the success of the first re-release, talk soon turned to finding content for an LP.
Former Islander Hugh, who now lives predominantly in Turkey, said he and Debbie discovered some of Cassie's other tracks in their lofts.
They sent them to the record label in Brooklyn, America, before they were then shipped to Germany for re-mastering.
They have since been returned to the US to be pressed.
"The label's just waiting for them [the tracks] to arrive back in the office and then they'll be distributed out to the various shops and at that point they'll go online and everyone will be able to buy them on vinyl or online, Hugh said.
"It's 13 songs - all original. Debbie and Nigel were the predominant song writers but Eric and I sort of put the rhythm section together for it. There's another track that's going to be available digitally - but not on the LP. So there's actually 14 of them. And of course the singles as well, so all in all that'll be 16 songs floating around the world.
"It's fantastic. We're just really chuffed that all of those songs that we did all of those years ago will be out there forever more."
The artwork for the worldwide and Japanese release is out now.
The album is called 'Light Shines On' - and the likely release date is early next month (December).
Reuniting with Eric
After re-releasing the first 7", Hugh and Debbie - who have remained in contact throughout the years - attempted to find old pal Eric Biggs.
Hugh said:
"Debbie and I have never lost contact. We've been friends all the years through. The last time we saw Eric was at Nigel Hayles funeral in 2002. Debbie left the Island for London. We left the Island for Turkey, then India so our paths never crossed.
"Eric has no social media contact whatsoever - you can't find him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram. You just can't find him anywhere.
"When we first heard we did try to track him down but we just hit brick walls."
After the publication of Isle of Wight Radio's first story, Eric picked up the phone. He spoke to a member of the news team who passed on Hugh's details.
All three have since been in contact - 18 years after they last saw each other.
And as for producing more material? Hugh says "we'll have to see what the future holds."
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